lifeIMAGE, a developer of tools for e-sharing of medical images, launched its LINCS service, which allows physicians to share medical images and associated information with each other, with medical centers and with their patients, at the 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

An extension of lifeIMAGE’s existing platform, LINCS is a network that allows physicians to connect and exchange imaging information with existing colleagues, as well as specialists, according to the Newton, Mass.-based company.

Using LINCS, a primary care physician who needs to connect with an expert pediatric radiologist for a patient consult can use the LINCS directory function to find and contact an appropriate connection. Once the contacted physician approves the connection, the physicians then can share and view images throughout the patient-care process–instead of relying on CDs.

LINCS allows physicians and patients to receive imaging and other medical records, and provides a platform for these records to be added to personal health records or institutional EMR systems.

Image Share, which was launched by RSNA in 2009 with a grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, uses lifeIMAGE’s services to power several aspects of the program.

At RSNA, lifeIMAGE also announced new partnerships with several technology companies:
•lifeIMAGE demonstrated a technology intergration with Vital Images, an advanced visualization and analysis software company, which showed Vital’s FDA-cleared universal viewer launching from LINCS. The two companies also are exploring a collaboration to provide on-demand access through LINCS to advanced visualization tools and clinical technologies for cardiovascular, neurovascular and oncology imaging.
•lifeIMAGE also partnered with ClearCanvas, a developer of diagnostic imaging applications. ClearCanvas offers a free version of its diagnostic workstations in an open-source format, as well as an FDA-approved clinical version, that will connect the members of the ClearCanvas community to lifeIMAGE.